The Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for his suspected involvement in scams involving sales of Marina Bay Sands hotel room bookings.
In December 2020, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller offering Marina Bay Sands Hotel room bookings at cheaper rates. The seller became uncontactable after the victims made payment via bank transfers.
Through investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 29 December 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to have cheated more than 11 victims of more than $3,000.
The man will be charged in court on 31 December 2020 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, and a fine.
The Police take a serious view of persons who may be involved in scams and frauds, and perpetrators will be dealt with, in accordance with the law. The Police would like to advise members of the public to be very careful when making online purchases:
- Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
- Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or WeChat by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. They may also use a local bank account or provide a copy of a NRIC/driver’s licence to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it!
- If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase only from authorised sellers or reputable sources, especially for high-value items.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 December 2020 @ 4:15 PM